Security closure

ABSTRACT

A security closure comprising a panel having inner and outer sides, holding means rigidly secured to or formed on the inner side of the panel, anchor means of a length not substantially less than the height or width of the panel, and at least two spaced apart elongate connector means interconnecting the holding means on the panel and each of the anchor means, each connector means being adapted at one end to be releasably engaged with said spaced holding means and being so connectable with the anchor means as to clamp an opening surround between the panel inner side and the anchor means with the anchor means extending generally parallel to the panel.

The invention relates to a security closure for use in protectingwindows and like openings in temporarily unoccupied premises.

Property which is temporarily vacant for one reason or another, forexample, during building renovation or between tenancies is beingincreasingly subject to damage due to theft and vandalism. Earlyattempts to protect such property involved securing wooden or reinforcedpanels to the outer skin of the building around the opening. The meansof fixing the panels have proved to be easily accessible from theoutside and so lacking in security.

A recent proposal of security closure comprises a panel having a shallowperipherally extending side wall having inwardly turned rim portionsextending along opposed parallel sides of the panel and formed andarranged for captively retaining respective end portions of at least twosupport members so as to permit lateral sliding movement of the supportmembers in a direction parallel to the opposed sides while restrainingthem against movement perpendicular to the principal plane of the panel.At least two spaced apart elongate connector means are connected to eachof the support members and anchor means are provided having a length notsubstantially less than the length or width of the panel. The connectormeans and anchor means are formed and arranged for securing theconnector means to the anchor means so as to clamp an opening surroundbetween the panel side wall and the anchor means with the anchor meansextending generally parallel to the panel.

Since the means of fixing the panels are not easily accessible fromoutside, security is enhanced. However, the provision of the captive butslidable support members with the panel is a somewhat elaborate andexpensive feature.

According to the present invention there is provided a security closurecomprising a panel having inner and outer sides, holding means rigidlysecured to or formed on the inner side of the panel, anchor means of alength not substantially less than the height or width of the panel, andat least two spaced apart elongate connector means interconnecting theholding means on the panel and each of the anchor means, each connectormeans being adapted at one end to be releasably engaged with saidholding means and being so connectable with the anchor means as to clampan opening surround between the panel inner side and the anchor meanswith the anchor means extending generally parallel to the panel.

Such a structure is easy to assemble and yet provides all the necessarysecurity. Because the holding means are rigidly secured to or formed onthe inner side of the panel there can be no possibility of their movingeither during or after installation thereby facilitating installationand improving security.

The panel can have any form but preferably has a shallow peripherallyextending side wall having an inwardly turned rim. The holding means maycomprise formations integral with the panel near the periphery thereof,but concealed by the side wall for example being formed on said sidewall or on said inwardly turned rim.

Preferably, in order to ensure that the connector means do not movelaterally and again to improve security, the holding means define aplurality of spaced holding locations and said one end of said connectormeans is adapted to be releasably engaged with one of said spacedholding locations. Such a structure may take many forms and one of theseare a number of apertures, notches or the like formed in the rim or inthe side wall either integrally therewith or by tabs secured to orformed integrally with the side walls.

An alternative approach is for the holding means to include at least onebar extending across said inner side of the panel, said bar beingprovided with a plurality of spaced projections or recesses to definesaid plurality of spaced holding locations. The or each bar may besecured to the inner side of the panel at any location but preferably itis secured to the side wall and/or to the side wall rim. With theconstruction of the present invention the connector means are preferablyprovided with a head or a hook which is engagable with the holding meansand in particular engagable, where provided, at one of the spacedholding locations.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, thefollowing description is given, merely by way of example, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of security closureaccording to the invention as it would appear when fitted to a windowopening, but with a window opening omitted;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, in section, showing part of the closure of FIG. 1fitted in a window opening;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modification;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second construction;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the edge of the panel ofFIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C include a perspective view and two fragmentary viewsof a third embodiment of closure according to the invention;

FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate two different methods of securing the rigidbar of FIG. 6 to the panel;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7B showing a modified form of bar;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a further embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the embodiment ofFIG. 9.

It is envisaged to provide ranges of panels of three different heightseach having two different widths. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, two panels1 and 2 have the same height, but different widths in FIG. 1 and thesame width in FIG. 2. This shows how various sizes of window openingswhich can be covered. Each panel has a peripherally extending side wall3. The side wall 3 has an inwardly turned first rim 4. The first rim 4is extended into a second rim 5 turned back parallel to the side wall 3and a third rim 6 turned outwards parallel to the rim 4.

The rims 5 and 6 constitute hook engageable formations integral with thepanel near the periphery thereof but concealed by the side wall 3.Anchor means are provided in the form of top hat section steel bars 7each apertured along its length which is not substantially less than theheight of either panel. A number of elongate connector means areprovided each comprising a flexible steel strap 8 apertured along itslength. At one end of the strap 8 a flat strip like hook 9 is attachedand this is engaged over the rim 6. A bolt 10 with a T-shaped head (notshown) is inserted through convenient apertures in the strap 8 and thebar 7 and a wing nut 11 is tightened on the bolt 10 so as to clamp thesurround of a window opening 12 between the panel side wall 3 and thebars 7 with the bars 7 extending generally parallel to the panel.

Where two or more panels are used to cover one opening the adjacent sidewalls 3 are held together by a G-clamp 13 to which a bail 14 is securedfor engagement by the hook 9.

FIG. 3 shows a modified construction in which there is no extension ofthe inwardly turned rim and the bails 17 are welded to the inner surfaceof the side wall 3. Also shown in FIG. 3 is a variation in that the flatstrip like hook is replaced by a rod like hook.

In the second construction illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 like parts areindicated with the addition of 20. It can be seen that holes 26 arespaced along the rim 25 and constitute hook engageable formationsintegral with the panel near the periphery thereof, but concealed by theside wall 23. Anchor means are provided in the form of top hat sectionsteel bars 27 each apertured along its length which is not substantiallyless than the height of either panel. A number of elongate connectormeans are provided, each in the form of a wire rope 28 having, at oneend, a safety hook 29 engaging with a selected hole 26. An externallyscrew threaded sleeve 30 carrying a wing nut 30A is slid over the wirerope 28 and inserted into the aperture in the bar 27 until the wing nut30A abuts the bar 27. The wire rope 28 is pulled tight by hand and ascrew clamp 30B is applied to the wire rope 28 in abutment with thesleeve 30 and possibly welded to the wire rope 28. Thereafter, the wingnut 30A is tightened.

In an alternative arrangement the sleeve 30 is replaced by a bolt withan eye or a transverse hole at one end. The wire rope can be inserted atits free end through the eye or hole and jammed and kicked in place by afirst wing nut. Only the bolt extends through the aperture in the bar 27and a second wing nut on the bolt tightens the assembly.

In a further construction illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A-6C, AND 7A-7D, likeparts to those of FIGS. 1 to 3 are shown with the addition of 30.Holding means are provided in the form of top hat section steel bars 37each apertured along its length which is not substantially less than theheight of the panel. A number of elongate connector means are provided,each comprising a flexible seal strap 38 apertured along its length. Atone end of the strap 38 a flat strip-like hook 39 is attached, and thisis engaged in a selected one of a number of recessed spaced apartholding location portions of an elongate supporting rod 40 formedbetween fixed collars 41 spaced apart along the rod 40. Alternatively,the recessed portions may be machined from the rod and FIG. 8illustrates a strip like bar 40 with the recessed portions formed asnotches 42. In FIG. 7A and 7B end portions 42 extend outwards fromcranked parts 43 and are held by bolts 45. In FIG. 7C and 7D the endportions 42 extend inwards from end cranked portions 44 and the rim 34is extended by a rim 35 turned back parallel to the side wall 33.

A bolt 46 is inserted through apertures in the strap 38 and the bar 37,and a wing nut 48 is tightened on the bolt 46 so as to clamp thesurround of a window opening between the panel side walls 33 and thebars 37, the bars 37 extending generally parallel to the panel.

Where two or more panels are used to cover one opening, the adjacentside panels 31 are held together by a G-clamp 48 to which a bail 49 issecured for engagement by the hook 39.

With the mounting bolts 45 fixed to the panel and the hooks 39 engagedin recessed portions of the support members, the installed panel isresistant to sliding movement caused by hammer blows in its principalplane. Furthermore, the assymetrical arrangement of the mounting bolts45 renders the closure more adaptable to various situations without theneed for a large number of mountings.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the rim 54 is again extended by the rim55 as in FIGS. 7C and 7D. However, instead of the bolts 45, themountings are provided in the form of holes 60 spaced along the rim 55.A support member is in the form of a plain rod 61 with end crankedplates 62. Each plate 62 has a hole therethrough which is extended bycaptive nut 63 on the outside of the plate. A wing headed screw 66 isinserted through a selected hole 60 in the rim 55 and the hole in theplate 62 and screwed into the nut 63. Each elongate connector means isprovided in the form of a wire rope 68 having, at one end, a safety hook69 engaging over the rod 61.

The free end of the wire rope 68 is inserted through an aperture in abar 67. An external screw threaded sleeve 70 carrying a wing nut 70A isslid over the wire rope 68 and inserted into the aperture in the bar 67until the wing nut 70A abuts the bar 67. The wire rope 68 is pulledtight by hand and a screw clamp 70B is applied to the wire rope 68 inabutment with the sleeve 70 and possibly welded to the wire rope.Thereafter the wing nut 70A is tightened.

In an alternative arrangement, the sleeve 70 is replaced by a bolt withan eye or a transverse hole at one end. The wire rope can be inserted atits free end through the eye or hole and jammed and kinked in place by afirst wing nut. Only the bolt extends through the aperture in the barand the second wing nut on the bolt tightens the assembly.

I claim:
 1. A security closure comprising a rectangular continuous platelike panel having a front and a rear face and a periphery, a shallow,rearwardly extending peripheral sidewall extending around the fullperiphery of the panel and having an outer edge formed integrally withthe panel and an inner edge, an inwardly turned rim formed at the inneredge of the peripheral wall, said rim forming, with said panel and saidperipheral sidewall, a peripheral channel, peripherally spaced holdingelements rigidly secured to said panel within said peripheral channel,elongate anchor means of a length not substantially less than the heightor width of the panel, and at least two spaced apart flexible elongateconnector means interconnecting the spaced holding elements and each ofthe anchor means, each flexible elongate connector means being adapted,at one end thereof, to be releasably engaged with said spaced holdingelements and being so connectable with said anchor means as to clamp anopening surround in the inwardly turned rim and said elongate anchormeans, with said elongate anchor means then extending generally parallelto said panel.
 2. A security closure comprising a rectangular continuousplate like panel having a front and a rear face and a periphery, ashallow, rearwardly extending peripheral sidewall extending around thefull periphery of the panel and having an outer edge formed integrallywith the panel and an inner edge, an inwardly turned rim formed at theinner edge of the peripheral wall, said rim forming, with said panel andsaid peripheral sidewall, a peripheral channel, a second forwardlyturned rim formed on the inner edge of the first rim and extendingsubstantially parallel to said peripheral wall, a plurality ofperipherally spaced holes formed in said second rim, elongate anchormeans of a length not substantially less than the height or width of thepanel, and at least two spaced apart flexible elongate connector meansinterconnecting the holes in the second rim on the panel and each of theanchor means, each connector means being adapted at one end to bereleasably engaged in said spaced holes and being so connectable withthe anchor means as to clamp an opening surround between the first rimand the anchor means, with the anchor means than extending generallyparallel to the panel.
 3. A security closure comprising a rectangularplate like panel having front and rear faces and a periphery, a shallow,rearwardly extending peripheral side wall extending around the fullperiphery of the panel and having an outer edge formed integrally withthe panel and an inner edge, an inwardly turned first rim formed on theinner edge of the peripheral wall, said first rim forming with the paneland the peripheral wall a peripheral channel, a forwardly turned secondrim connected to the inner periphery of the first rim said second rimextending substantially parallel to the peripheral wall and a third rimformed integrally with the second rim and extending outwardly towards,but spaced from, the peripheral wall, elongate anchor means of a lengthnot substantially less than the height or width of the panel, at leasttwo spaced apart elongate connector means, a hook formed on one end ofeach of said connector means said hook being engageable with the thirdrim whereby each connector means is adapted to be releasably engagedwith said third rim, said connector means being so connectable with theanchor means as to clamp an opening surround between the panelperipheral wall and the anchor means, with the anchor means thenextending generally parallel to the panel.
 4. A security closurecomprising a rectangular plate like panel having front and rear facesand a periphery, a shallow, rearwardly extending peripheral side wallextending around the full periphery of the panel and having an outeredge formed integrally with the panel and an inner edge, an inwardlyturned rim formed on the inner edge of the peripheral wall, said rimforming with the panel and the peripheral side wall a peripheralchannel, at least one bar extending across the panel and spacedrearwardly from the rear face thereof, ends of said bar being rigidlysecured to said panel at the location of said peripheral channel, saidat least one bar being provided with a plurality of spaced projectionsor recesses defining a plurality of spaced holding locations, elongateanchors means of a length not substantially less than the height orwidth of said panel and at least two spaced apart flexible elongateconnector means interconnecting said spaced apart holding locations onsaid at least one bar and each of said anchor means, each elongateflexible connector means being adapted at one end to be releasablyengaged with said spaced holding locations and being so connectable withsaid anchor means as to clamp an opening surround between said rim ofthe panel and the anchor means, with the anchor means then extendingparallel to the panel.